Alarm mechanism for regenerative reversal systems



- Feb. 26,1929.

Filed Nov. 1, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Patented Feb. 26, 1929.

unirsi) STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ANGUS MAcARTI-IUR, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO THE KOPPERS COMPANY, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

ALARM MECHANISM FOR REGENERAIIVE REVERSAL SYSTEMS.

Application filed November The object of this invention is to provide an efficient and reliable mechanism for giving an alarm in case of a failure of the reversal machinery of regenerative heating furnaces to function properly at the period when it should operate to reverse the flow of the heating gases.

In addition to the general object recited above, the invention has for other objects such other improvements or advantages in construction and operation as are found to obtain in the structures and devices hereinafter described or claimed.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and showing for purpose of exemplication, a preferred form and manner in which the invention may be embodied and practiced, but without limiting the claimed invention to such illustrative instance or instances:

Figure 1 is` a diagrammatic view illustrating an applicationof the alarm mechanism of the invention to a reversal mechanism for regenerative heating furnaces, such as regenerative coke oven reversing mechanism;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of the alarm and immediate connections* for operating the same;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the means for timing and controlling the flow of the operating fluid; and

Fig. l is an enlarged sectional view of the. filter trap for the operating fluid.

The same characters of reference designate the same parts in each of the several views of the drawings.

In its present embodiment, the invention is incorporated in a reversing mechanism for coking plants of the well known Ioppers regenerative type. For convenience, the present description will be confined to this embodiment and use of the invention; it will be understood, however, that the invention is readily susceptible of other vvaluable applica-tions, for example, reversing systems for regenerative heating furnaces generally, and that the invention is not confined in scope to the specific use and specific embodiment herein described'as an illustrative eX- ample.

In the operation of a-regenerative coke oven battery of the type above specified, the several heating flues are divided into infion7 and outflow groups, with groups of 1, 192,3. Serial No. 672,222.

regenerators corresponding respectively to the inflow and outflow groups of flues. During the operating period between each reversal, the inflow group of fiues and corresponding regenerators are supplied with fuel gas and combustion supporting air for the purpose of flame propagation in the inflow `ues. In one method of operation, some of the regenerators feed air to the inflow flues and others the fuel gas, this method being known as gas oven operation; in another method all of the inflow regenerators feed air to the flues,'and the fuel gas is fed directly to the flues from supply mains, this latter method being known as coke oven operation. Whatever method of flame propagation be employed in the regenerative heating system, it is essential that a reversal in flow of the heating gases be effected at the end of an operating period such as above described, so that the outfiow flues and regenerators which operatedduring a previous operating period to convey waste gases to an exhaust main or stack flue be switched to the infiow function and also that, during the same reversal, the previous inflow-operating regener'ators and flues be switched to the outflow function. This reversing operation is accomplished in such regenerative vheating structuresby reversing machinery which is timed to effect the change in function 'between inflow and outflow regenerators and flues lat the end of eachoperating period.

The reversing mechanism includes in its construction a pair of reversing cables 11 and 12 (see Fig. 1), one cable 11 of which controls and operates the various valves appertaining to one group of flues and regenerators and the other cable 12 the various valves apperfaining to the other group of flues and regenerators. In Fig. 1, there is shown a series of valves' 13 for a group I of regenerators and yflues and a series of valves let for a group' O of regenerators and flues. For the vsake of simplicity only one series of valves for each group of regenerators and flues is shown, but 1t will be understood that all other valves essential to effect the reversing operation will be included in the mechanism of which the cables 11 and 12 constitute part of the operating ,n

part oit the diagram designated by the reierence character l represents the group of inflow `lues and regenerators with the series of valves 1 3 open, whereas that part ot the diagram designated by the reference character O represents the outflow lues and regenerators with the' series of valves 14 closed to prevent supply of air or fuel gas to the outiiow regenerators and lues.

At the end of the operating period, reversal. isy eifected, according to the' usual practice, byy first shutting oil' the valves controlling the flow of fuel and air into the in'iow regenerators and flues bei-ore opening up the valves controlling the supply orl fuel gas and air to the previous outflow regenerators and tlues. This slight interval between the closing` et the valves of the previous `inflow regenerators and lines and the opening of the valves of the previous outflow regenerators and lines is employed for the purpose o1 permitting a decarbonizing operation well understood in the art and describedyfor example, in prior Let ers Patent oit Joseph van Ackeren No. 1,410,783 dated March 23, 1922, to take place in the previous inflow lines and regenerators. Consequently vthe reversi g cable 11 is shifted toward the right to close trie series of valves 13 and such other valves as may be necessary before the reversing cable 12 is shifted toward the right to open the series oil valves 14 and other valves appel-taining to the group of lines and regenerators O to give the inflow function to said latter group. he above described inode of operation ot the reversing system during each reversal period is advantageously employed in the application thereto ol' the alarm mechanism olf the present invention.

ln its preferred embodiment in plants et this character, 'the alarm is preferably constituted oit' a whistle 15 for which steam is supplied by a steam pipe 1G through a controlling valve 17 operated by a valve stem 13, which when depressed opens the valve 17 to permit a flow el steam through the line 1G to blew 'the whistle 15. The operation of the stem 13 controlled by a bell `crark lever 19 pivoted at 20 on a supporti g bracket 21 mounted on the valve 17. .lhe

vertical aria 22 et' the bell crank lever 19 is provided with a connterweight 23 and the horizontal arm 24 ol' said lever is brim-cated shown at 25 to receive the valve operating` rod 25. Movement o'll the hell cranl lever 19 toward the right, as shown in Fig. 2, limited by a stop constituted of an upright 27 secured to the main 16.

The valve operating rod 2G is provided with an operating lug 28 which, when the rod 26 is lifted the required distance engages the arm 24 of thebell cranli lever and in lifting Vsaid arm 24 forces the bell crank lever 19 toward the left so that'the counterweight 23 of said lever will cause the vertical arm 22 to move downwardly toward the left and in so doing bring the operating face 29 into engagement with the valve ilunger 13 to depress the latter, open the valve 17 and permit steam Ato liow through the line 16 to blow the whistle 17.

The inoveinentof the valve operating rod 26 controlled by a float 30 to which the lower end of said rod 26 is secured. rllhe float 30 may be raised and lowered in a float chamber 31 formed by a surrounding easing 32 and through the top ot which the valve (,iperating rod 23 passes, as shown more particularly in Fig. 2.r Preferably, the' rod 2G as well as the float 30 are guided in their movement by bearings 33 and 34 encircling the r'od 26 and secured to brackets 35 and 36 respectively mounted on the top and bottoin of the surrounding casing 32.

The raising ot the float 30 is caused by an operating fluid such water lsupplied to the bottom oli the float chamber by a pipe 37 from a supply tank 38. The supply tanli communicates with a supply pipe 39 and the latter is connected by a by-pass 40 having a controlling valve 41 with a pipe 42 which extends to a manually operated valve The valve 43 is connected by a short pipe union 44 with the controlling valve 45 of the alarm mechanism and said valve 45 is in turn connected with the supply pipe 37. At the point where 'the bynpass 40 connects with the pipe 42, there is preferably provided, as shown in Fig. 4, a wire cloth lter 46 enclosed in the pipe 42 and removable for cleaning purposes by unscrewing a. cap or plug 47 which normally closes the lower end of the pipe 42. A second by-pass 43 located above the ley-pass 40 connects the pipe 39 with the pipe 42 and the valve 49 controlling the flow through the by-pass 48 may be opened when valve 41 of bypass 40 is closed during an operation of cleaning out the wire lilter in the bottoni oi" the pipo 42. rEhe last mentioned construction permits an un.` terrupted operation oi the `ein even during cleaning out of the filter.

ils shown in Fig. 37 the pipe 42 is made in two sections for the purpose 'oil interposing in the fluid line a disk 5G having a restricted aperture 51 which regulates and controls the flow of fluid into the pipe 37. The two sections of the pipe 42 and the disk 5() are united by means ot' pipe union 52. During the operating period between reversals and valve 49 normally closed, the valve 41 is open well as valve 43 and the alarm control valve 45. The alarm control valve 45 is a three-way valve controlling the tlow through the pipe 44, pipe 37, and a drain pipe 53 all of which are connected to the valve 45, as `shown in Fig. 1 and is con-`r trolled in its operation by a lever 54 having a weight 55 which tends to throw the lever to operate the valve to permit a flow of the fluid from the source of supply 38 into the pipe 37 and float chamber 31. The flow of the fluid is controlled by the apertured plug hereinbefore described, so that during the operating period between reversals, while the valve 45 is open to permit flow through the line 37, the quantity discharged into the flow chamber 31 is restricted to an amount requiring a period of time in excess of the normal operating period between reversals to cause the float 30 to be elevated a distance suflicient to throw the lever 19 into position for operating the whistle 15.

Secured to the lever' 54 is a flexible connection 57 the upper end of which is secured at 58 to a sheave 59 around which passes a cable 60. The opposite ends of the cable 60 are guided by fixed pulleys 61 and are secured respectively to the reversing cables 11 and 12. lVhenever one group of flues and regenerators, such as the group I, is in open position, while the other group of flues and regenerators is in closed position, such as the group O, as shown in Fig. 1, which happens during a period between reversals, the sheave 59 is lowered by the cable 60 to permit the eounterweight 55 to move the controlling valve l5 to filling position, so that a supply of fluid is permitted to flow into the float chamber 31. At the end of the operating period between reversals, the reversing cable whose valves were in open position should be operated, as hereinbefore stated, to close the valves before the other cable is operated to open the valves of the previous outflow fiues and regenerators. Assuming this to be the cable 11, the oper tion of moving the cable 11 to the right to close the valves 13, would draw up the sheave 59 and with it the lever 54: to throw the valve 45 so that the pipe 37 would be connected with the drain pipe 53. The result would be that the float would be permitted to fall in the float chamber 31 and the alarm would not be sounded. As soon as the reversal is completed, for example, by moving the cable 12 toward the right to open the valves 111! to cause the regenerators and fines controlled thereby to become inflow regenerators and fines, the sheave 59 would be again lowered to re-establish a supply of fluid to the float chamber 31. During normal operating cong dii-ions, the above described draining of the float chamber would happen at earh reversal to prevent blmving of the whistle 15.

If, however, the reversal machinery should fail during a reversal period, for example, should al reversing cable such as the cable 11 fail to movek toward the right to close the valves at the beginning of the reversing period, the sheave 59 would remain in lowered position and the supply of fluid would be continued into the float chamber 31. Consequently, the float would continue to rise and the further upward movement of .the rod 26 would throw over the bell crank may be variously embodied within the scope of the claims hereinafter made.

I claim: n

1. In combination with a pair of reversing cables; a whistle; afloat chamber; a float therein movable to a predetermined position for effecting the operation of the whistle; an operating-fluid supply line; a drain; a controlling valve for connecting either the drain with the float chamber or they float chamber with said operating-fluid supply line; connections between both reversing cables and said controlling valve, operable when both cables are in closed7 position to throw the controlling valve to draining position, but when either one of them is in open position to throw said valve to connect the float chamber with the operatingfluid supply; and means for regulating the supply of operating fluid to the float chamber whereby an interval greater than the normal interval between reversals is required for the float to reach its whistle-operating position substantially as specified.

2. kIn combination with a pair of reversing cables; an alarm; a float chamber; a float therein movable to a predetermined position for effecting the operation of the alarm; an operating-fluid supply line; a drain; a controlling valve for connecting either the drain with the float chamber Or the float chamber with said operating-fluid supply line; connections between both reversing cables and said controlling valve, operable when both cables are in closed position to throw the controlling valve to draining position, but when either one of them is in open position to throw said valve to conneet the float chamber with the operatingfluid supply; and means for regulating the supply of operating fluid to the float chamber whereby an interval greater than the normal interval between reversals is required for the float to reach its alarm-operating position substantially as specified.

In combination with a pair of reversing cables, an alarm; instrumentalities comprising means movable to a predetermined position for effecting the operation of the alarm; means for regulating the powery for the alarm operating instrumentalities comprising means whereby an interval greater than the normal interval between reversals is required for the alarm' to operate; and connections between thereversing cables and said instrumentalities comprising means for effecting operation of the normal interval between. reversals is required for the alarm 'to operate; and connections between the reversing mechanism and said instrumentalities comprising means for effecting operation of the alarm for rendering` the latter inoperative by the proper functioning of the reversing mechanism during reversal substantially as specified.

5. In combination with a pair of periodically operable regenerative reversing cables: an alarm; fluid pressure operated timed means adapted for effecting the operation of said alarm upon failure of either of said reversing cables to function after the normal interval of time between reversals; timing means adapted for effecting timed operation of said timed means by fluid pressure; and resetting means adapted to be operated by the reversing cables and to effect; when operated by said cables upon the proper functioning of both of them at the end of the normal interval of time between reversals7 a resetting of said timed means for another time/d operation by said timing means before said timed means effects the operation of said alarm.

6. In combination with a pair of periodically operable regenerative reversing cables: an audible alarm; timed means adapted for effecting the operation of said audible alarm upon the failure of either of said reversing cables to function after the normal interval of time between reversals; timing means adapted for effecting timed operation of said timed means; and resetting means adapted to be operated by the reversing' cables and to effect; when operated by said cables upon the proper functioning of both of them at the end of the normal period of time between reversals7 a resetting of said timed means f r another timed operation by said timing means before said timed means effects the .operation of said audible alarm.

7. ln combination with a periodically operable regenerative reversing mechanism: an alarm; timed. means adapted for effecting the operation of said alarm upon the failure of said reversing mechanism to function after the normal interval of time between reversals; timing means adapted to effect timed operation of said timed means; and resetting means adapted to be operated by the reversing mechanism and to effect, when operated by the reversing mechanism upon the proper functioning thereof at the end of the normal period between reversals; a resetting of said timed means for another timed operation by said timing means before said timed means effects the operation of said alarm.

8. ln combination with a periodically operable regenerative reversing mechanism: an audible alarm; timed means adapted for effecting the operation of said alarm upon the failure of said reversing mechanism to function after the normal interval of time between reversals; timing means adapted to effect timed operation of said timed means; and resetting means adapted to be operated by the reversing mechanism and to effect7 when operated by the reversing mechanism upon the proper,functioning thereof at the end of the normal period between reversals, a resetting of said timed means for another timed operation by said timing means before said timed means effect-s the operation of said audible alarm.

9. ln combination with a periodically operable reversing mechanism: an alarm; timed means adapted for effecting the operation of said alarm upon the failure of said reversing mechanism to function after the normal interval of time between reversals; timingl means adapted to effect timed operation of said timed means; and moans operable by the reversing' mechanism upon the proper functioning thereof to effect another timed operation of said timed means by said timing means.

ln testimony whereof l have hereunto set my hand.

NGUS MACARTHUR 

